I know there's some controversial history adjacent to this idea, but I think everyone (native born included) should pass the test before they can vote. I also think we should throw out the voting age and the felony condition and ONLY have a voting test.
I have a long answer to this which I can dredge up and copy paste. Here's the short version.
1/3 random questions from the immigration test as it exists today (so that no one can disenfranchise others by changing the test).
2/3 questions chosen by each candidate on the ballot. Questions must have an objectively correct answer and must be pertinent to the powers of the office itself.
The long version of this answer just adds defining objective, correct, and pertinent in a legally unambiguous way and sketches out scenarios like trick questions to show that the only reliable way to gain favor in this system is to actually be knowledgeable.
I assume that it works more like a filter - does the voter know the promises and policies of each candidate in his region? Or is the voter voting blindly?
There was an idea going around that instead of voting for candidate, you would answer a questionnaire about policies, and would be matched with best fit candidate.
The questions itself would be compiled from candidates' policies, and candidate would assign the weights to each of the answers.
The problem is that this system will gradually mean that people who get to vote entrench their privilege and keep out others who do not get to vote. Gradually, you'll have a permanent underclass of people who have never known voting. The effects of unequal schooling etc will be even worse than they are today and politicians will have no incentive to even consider people who can't vote.
I really should dredge out my old comment because I already address this concern. Curve the test so that 80% pass. In this way it is impossible to get a feedback loop that miniaturizes the electorate.
